Leaders believe mosque vandalism in MC a hate crime

Vandals recently have scratched graffiti on a sign and shot out windows at the Michigan City Islamic Center, causing $8,600 in damage, police say.

Center President Abraham Hakim, whose family has lived in the Michigan City area for decades, said all 10 windows were shot only once, costing the most money to replace. Thrill-seeking teenage vandals wouldn't be so methodical, he believes.

"People here are shocked. It looks more like someone sending a message than random vandalism by bored teenagers," Hakim said.

Bullets were shot last week into the center's copper dome, leaving six large and obvious holes, police said. Also, two glass doors, 10 windows, a sign and a spotlight were vandalized, possibly by a BB gun, police said.

Greg and Alice Fulmer, a Maryland couple who converted to Islam, visit many mosques while vacationing across the country. They say they've seen similar damage in their travels.

"Sadly, we see this too often," said Greg, 33, who visited the center just outside Michigan City Friday for midday prayers with his wife and three children. "I'll bet at least one mosque is vandalized every day in this country."

The 16-acre center is the first chartered Islamic center in the country, serving local Muslims since 1924, Hakim said. Yet the center had no hate-crime vandalism done in the past decade, even since the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks in New York and Washington, he said.

Samer Agemy, who is on the board of directors and center groundskeeper, told police a sign also had a swastika carved into it, but an officer said he could not make out the symbol through the scratch marks.